Do People Respond to the Mortgage Interest Deduction? Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Denmark

Jonathan Gruber, Amalie Sofie Jensen, Henrik Kleven

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
222 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Using a major reform which scaled back the mortgage interest deduction for middle- and high-income households in Denmark, we study how tax subsidies affect housing decisions. We present four main findings. First, the mortgage deduction has a precisely estimated zero effect on homeownership for high- and middle-income households. Second, the mortgage deduction has a clear effect on housing demand at the intensive margin, inducing homeowners to buy larger and more expensive houses. Third, the deduction has sizeable effects on household financial decisions, inducing them to increase indebtedness. Finally, the reduction of the tax subsidy lowered equilibrium house prices.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Volume13
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)273-303
ISSN1945-7731
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Cite this